A short walk to the south will take you to Parque Colon , home to the first cathedral built in the New World , with its impressive Gothic architecture and Baroque paintings. The western side is also home to the Gazcue neighborhood, known for its Victorian-style houses and beautiful tree-lined streets. Some of the top attractions in the western part include the Palacio Nacional seat of the Dominican government , the Palace of Fine Arts , the National Theater , and the numerous museums that call Plaza de la Cultura home.
There, you can find the remains of Christopher Columbus , at Columbus Lighthouse. Despite being one of the oldest cities in the world, Santo Domingo gets its true charm from blending colonial architecture with cutting edge, modern features. It is home to booming nightclubs , modern shopping malls , and elegant restaurants. Combining the old with the new, this city full of contrasts is a must-see on your Dominican Republic vacation. One of the best ways to visit Santo Domingo is with a guided city tour.
There is also a shared tour that leaves from La Romana or from Punta Cana. In terms of distances, the capital is about 2. Each excursion includes a visit to the Colonial District and explanations from your guide about all the different sites.
The square is always full of families and street performers and has a wonderful atmosphere. Reason 2. The Weather. The temperature is around 30 degrees almost any time of year!
There are some rainy days mainly from August to October but the weather is always warm. Reason 3. The Malecon. Enjoy the views from one of the hotel rooftops on the Malecon, the ocean front avenue. Many of the hotels have rooftop swimming pools that you can pay to use per day. Reason 4. You will enjoy the Dominican food and culture so much more when you explore Santo Domingo. Reason 5. The souvenirs. The small shops tucked away in the side streets of Zona Colonial sell so many beautiful souvenirs.
Be sure to buy some Larimar jewellery. Larimar is a bright blue stone that can only be found in the Dominican Republic and the jewellery is a lovely and inexpensive souvenir or gift. Reason 6. They are happy to show you some steps and moves as well, especially as the nightlife here in the Zona Colonial is quite relaxed and low-key, compared to other locations in Santo Domingo. Of course, right now during the Coronavirus pandemic, nightlife options are mostly non-existent, especially as a nightly curfew is existing since March However, you can be sure that nightlife in the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo will be back to normal as soon as the clubs and restaurants are allowed to open again.
However, there is one dancing respectively nightlife event which earns its separate reference here in this article about the reasons why to visit Santo Domingos Zona Colonial: Bonye. This is the name of an extremely popular and long-standing Dominican band who is performing every Sunday evening in an amazing historical setting next to the ruins of San Francisco. While just the location is worth a visit, the Bonye band guarantees that every event is a big street party for everyone.
When you get there, you will see hundreds of Dominicans and tourists alike dancing to the typical Bachata, Merengue and Salsa music, while the bars and colmados next door are open to sell drinks and snacks. The event is for free, an unparalleled highlight and a must-see when visiting Santo Domingo.
Bonye events in Santo Domingo are also postponed until further notice due to the sanitary restrictions because of Covid We hope they will be on stage again as soon as it is safe to have these kinds of events again. If you are a photographer, the Zona Colonial will be your heaven, thanks to the historic buildings, the little alleyways and especially the abundant colors.
Not only can you take photos of the popular sights, but also of hidden spots, creatively painted buildings and ancient street. There are also dozens if not hundreds historic and picturesque courtyards to discover. For a serious photographer, it might take several days to explore all the secrets the Zona Colonial has to offer. Safety sometimes is an issue when talking about the Dominican Republic mostly unjustified due to a lack of knowledge or experience.
While Santo Domingo indeed has some crime issues, the Zona Colonial is perfectly safe, as long as you keep your eyes open and are not moving around careless. There is a high presence of police ordinary and tourist police , the streets are always busy and there are even surveillance cameras in the area. If you are not only coming for a day trip from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo but are planning several days or even a full road-trip through the Dominican Republic , the city will be your perfect starting point to venture out to the country.
Due to the logistical structure of the Dominican Republic busses, highways, etc. Therefore Santo Domingo marks a great starting point if you are planning to see more from the Dominican Republic than just Punta Cana. Most of the tours in Punta Cana are starting quite early in the morning to allow you sufficient time in Santo Domingo as you will spend hours on the bus on the way from and to Punta Cana approximately 2.
After arriving in the Colonial Zone, you will have a guided tour with a lot of the sights mentioned above, incl. In the afternoon, you have either a tour by bus to other sights of the city or some free time to explore some of the highlights I described above before heading back to Punta Cana. It is definitely a must-do excursion for all those who are interested in the history of Santo Domingo and the culture of the Dominican Republic. You can check out some recommendable offers here.
If you would like to visit Santo Domingo from Punta Cana on your own I would recommend you at least two days. This gives you more time to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Colonial Zone and stretches the travel time to two different days. To get from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo , you have three options:. Prices for a door-to-door transfer from your resort in Punta Cana to your hotel in Santo Domingo should range between and USD one-way incl. If interested, you can book those transfers with the following links:.
Driving in the Dominican Republic might sometimes be a bit chaotic but is doable. However, please note that traffic in Santo Domingo is a little crazy so it is best to leave the car in the garage once you have arrived in Santo Domingo. If driving with your own car, you need around 2. If you are a newbie in the Dominican Republic or have never driven in other countries, it is not recommendable to head to Santo Domingo by rental car.
As there is a direct express service 6 times a day between both cities, it is quite easy. On top, the journey is very comfortable as the busses are new and modern. Depending on your mobility you might need taxis or motoconchos to get to and from the bus station.
You can find all the information about getting from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo in this article , incl. Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Is it difficult for you to decide what and where to book? I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations.
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